Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Miss Emelia Arthur, has departed Accra to participate in the 6th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC–ARDWE), which is being held from 21st to 24th October 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The high-level Ministerial Session brings together Ministers responsible for agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, rural development, water, and environment from all AU Member States.

The purpose of the meeting is to review progress made across these sectors, set policy priorities, and adopt key strategic documents to guide sustainable development efforts across the continent.

Ms. Arthur’s participation highlights Ghana’s ongoing commitment to advancing the goals of the Pan-African Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture (PFRS), as well as its active role in strengthening regional collaboration under the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM).

During the session, the Minister will join her counterparts to deliberate on a range of strategic documents developed under the FishGov2 and Aquatic Biodiversity initiatives.

The discussions will assess progress on the implementation of previous STC recommendations and explore new pathways for aligning national and continental priorities in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

A major focus of the meeting will be on enhancing policy coherence, promoting sustainable aquaculture, and advancing Africa’s blue economy agenda — ensuring that the continent’s aquatic and marine resources are sustainably managed for long-term food security and economic growth.

Ghana’s presence at the AU forum underscores the government’s dedication to responsible fisheries governance, aquaculture expansion, and cross-border cooperation.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture continues to prioritise sustainability, community participation, and innovation to ensure that the fisheries sector contributes significantly to livelihoods, food security, and national economic transformation.

The Addis Ababa session is expected to culminate in the adoption of new frameworks to strengthen Africa’s collective approach to managing its natural resources amid global environmental and economic challenges.